Slots are one of the most popular—if not THE most popular—casino games worldwide. They are enjoyed by millions of players daily, all believing that their next big jackpot must be around the corner. But is there truth behind such belief? Will betting more on slots ultimately give you a better chance of winning? That’s what we are here to find out!
Slots 101
To know how you stand chance-wise when it comes to slots, you first need to get a grasp of slot machine mechanics. All slot machines operate on a Random Number Generator (RNG) system. It ensures that the outcome of the game is completely luck-based, removing any potential for rigged games or scams. The system restarts with every spin, meaning that the outcome of one game is completely independent of the outcome of your previous spins – in other words, RNG doesn’t remember whether you won or lost in the past.
Another important abbreviation to remember is RTP, or Return to Player (RTP). You’ll see an RTP percentage written next to every slot, as this critical aspect signals the payout percentage. Let’s say a slot you are playing has an RTP of 97.5% – it means that the machine will return $97.5 for every $100 wagered back to players.
But there’s one very important consideration here – this number is calculated over millions of spins, so your results might vary accordingly. A high RTP doesn’t equal a guaranteed win.
Playing for free – is it a possibility?
Betting money and hoping for a big win is one of the many joys of slot machines. It’s the idea on which casino games were built. But not everyone likes to take risks, which doesn’t mean that slots and other games are off-limits for them. Gamblers who want to experience the thrill of online games without spending real money are going to love sweepstakes casinos.
These casinos usually offer hundreds of different slots—all completely free and fully accessible—a few examples of which you can find on progressivesweepslots.com. With these slots, there’s no need for the fun to end once the money runs out, making them a fan favorite.
Will betting more give you more?
This is where the gambler’s fallacy—or the belief that past outcomes influence future results—kicks in. Players might think that, since they’ve had dozens of losses in a row, they are bound to get their lucky break any time. However, due to the RNG mechanism that we’ve mentioned, this just isn’t the case.
Players have to be aware of one other, equally detrimental mistake they can make, which is believing that betting more money will result in a win. The machine doesn’t care whether you bet $10 or $100 – it will give you the same combination of symbols, regardless of the size of your bet.
You might feel discouraged after reading this, but you really shouldn’t be; slot machines’ fairness and randomness actually speak volumes about their safety. The machine doesn’t care who you are, how many wins/losses you’ve had, and how much you’ve bet.
Can you boost your winning chances?
While your chances of hitting a jackpot on a slot machine are 1 in 262,144, your odds of getting a regular jackpot win are much, much greater, provided that you choose a game with a solid RTP. A game with a high RTP offers better returns over time in comparison to those with a low RTP, giving your winning chances a small boost. If you are wondering what counts as a high RTP, anything over 96% is good enough.
Another thing you can do if you want to increase your chances of winning is play low-volatility slots. Volatility is a very important term in the gambling world, and it’s one of the most important aspects of any slot machine. Also called slot variance, the slot machine’s volatility refers to the frequency of the payouts. It also indicates how much a slot pays out on average.
A game with low volatility will result in more frequent wins, but they will be smaller in size. On the other hand, a high-volatility slot is reserved for those who prefer high stakes and large rewards, but also high risk, as wins are rare. Only you can decide which one you want to go with.
